NB21-07: Understanding Variation in Occupational Requirements

This project explores how the work requirements of a defined occupation vary across employers. Understanding within-occupation variation in functional requirements can strengthen the disability determination process by enabling more accurate characterizations of the range of jobs that individuals with disabilities can perform. The analysis will characterize the variation in functional requirements within occupations; examine whether establishment and local labor market characteristics contribute to the variability in within-occupation functional requirements; and explore whether incorporating information about variability in within-occupation requirements could improve job matches for individuals with functional impairments. The study will be conducted using microdata from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Requirements Survey combined with novel survey data on medical conditions and functional limitations from the 2019 RAND American Life Panel.